Moving On From Personal Traumas

my husband and i have had a very hard time the past couple years...physical injury, fire, surgery, death, all happened within a few months...it has been two years today since his sister passed away while visiting us in our home. She went to sleep on our couch, and did not wake up. That was the last (and hardest) tragedy in a long line of traumas that took over our lives. for a couple of years now, we have struggled emotionally. My husband typically shoves everything down...deep inside...while my emotions tend to come out all over the place...usually in the form of fear and insecurities...I have been treated by a psychiatrist for PTSD, with some positive outcomes, but mostly just for dealing with my grief...i am starting to believe i need more help with anxiety and trust issues...my heart tells me that my husband loves me, and that he would not hurt me (cheating, etc) but my emotional state usually prevents me from living with a secure knowledge of this...i feel like i'm always waiting for the rest of my world to come crashing down. As i said, my husband pushes everything down, and it seems as though he's distancing himself...he usually prefers to lose himself in work, and video games. He is consistently online, gaming, until all hours of the night. (and morning) When he's not on PS3, he's on his iphone, playing more games...it's very hard to not take this personally...it truly is as if he'd prefer those things over being with his family....i know he is depressed, and i've tried to talk with him about this on many occasions...even suggested family/couples counselling. I've now decided that I need to start making more effort to be happy myself...I need to get a life...I'm going back to work soon, and I've decided that I am going to get myself a circle of friends, and a social life. I have to be responsible for my own happiness, and stop expecting my husband to make me happy. Wish me luck!!!

For many years, I was afraid to have anything good. I knew the only reason I would ever have anything good was so it when it was taken away I would hurt even more. I know better, but that was the feeling in my heart. Then my only son died...........

sorry to hear the troubles and about your husbands sister . sad . glad to see things are working for your family . by reading your other stories . you sound pretty cool. glad you and your daughter get along so well . sweet . :-)

hprfws is awesone comment and true men women do not express emotions the same. I learned when their stress is high that cave they enter, don’t even try entering just out of luv for him, his trying to find the *fix* solution...his probably even more terrorized knowing you’re going through all this

Absolutely! You can't help him ,unfortunately, but you can help yourself. That's the place to start. Talk to counselors, doctors, and get help dealing with all this. Hopefully as you improve he'll take notice and seek treatment also.A person can't hide forever. He's going to have to deal with these issues when he's finally ready to.Good luck. I've been there. (Lost a brother and my only sister within 3 years of each other. Both were way too young).

Babydoll; hon, you are doing the best thing that you can do; try to take care of yourself emotionally and learn to find happiness apart from all the grief that you and your husband has been through; my heart feels for you. I understand how hard it is to live with a man you love who is in denial about his own pain and probably blaming his misery on you. Please take care of yourself; continue therapy for PTSD and "find yourself" through all of this...don't give up on YOUR healing...peace and hugs to you.

I'm a little similar to funniegirl Liz above. Had both PTSD and chronic depression. Was treated by a very good pshychiatrist and also had pills for depression. I held off on the medication for a number of years as I was worried about being adicted to them. They do help me personally and take the edge of the anger and frustration.<br /><br />My key difference I guess is that my partner also had ptsd/depression and she got the same help. Hers took a little longer than mine to resolve, but resolved it is.<br /><br />We are both now different people - often in our own seperate bubbles... But we are going forward in our own way. Am not sure how long we will be together as the physical side has gone, probably due to the medication and confidence.. But i guess we take it one day at a time and try to look forward...<br /><br />Anyway I feel your pain and distress.. If you ever want to talk privately and positively about all this message me via EP.<br /><br />Best wishes.. Your friend Ido. ;-)

There are 5 stages in the grieving process and it sounds like your husband is still at the first stage - denial and isolation. I know it must have hit him hard, his sister dying there. He does need help to move on as men do tend to bury their emotions where they fester. As regards the counselling, I suggest you say we're going ... no choice. He needs help through that grieving process which is where he's stuck. I wish you well.

I have dealt with some pretty tuff times myself, I found growing my circle of friends, and actually in some occasions dropping out of certain circles for new circles has contributed to good change in my life. A lot of the people I surround myself with now are involved with various different charities and events. Really they are just big get togethers where everyone drinks too much. But it is a great way to step out of your own life for a bit get dressed in your number ones, and have a good time, oh we also help others...... so that's good as well.

I've been checking into some volunteer opportunities as well....so far, mostly with the company I work for....and I'm increasing my little circle too,....getting into new hobbies...I read you are in the 'World's Longest Hockey Game'....that's cool....

Wow your last lines are what really touched me. You realize that you are the only one that can make you happy so get out there and make yourself happy. Have you thought of joining your hubby online? Maybe he would welcome you in his games and you could have some emotional bonding as you take down whatever opponent. Games take us away from the real world and allow us to leave those horrible thoughts behind sometimes and that is maybe his way of dealing with things. I am not the know all and be all of it, and I am just one person but you seem like such a strong woman and with or without him I think you are going to survive. I know those insecurities you speak of all too well because I have tried to push my guy away more than once because they crop up and I can't get past that "I may not be good enough for this man syndrome" but it is not them that needs to change it is us. I have been there and done that and I am in a better place because I struggled with it but keep in mind that you are strong and you need no one else to keep you there. it is all up to you.

Playing games and being on the computer is his way of dealing with this cause he don't have to talk to anyone. Was he always like this and did you two ever have good converstions between you? Maybe he just needs to know and feel that it is really easy to let go and talk with you but you have to be that open and understanding to let that happen!

Sad for you to have gone through so much and then lost the closeness of your husband. You do need to spring back to life yourself. That's a good plan.<br />I hope you both can reconnect and rebuild your relationship.

it sounds like the games keeps his mind occupied and its a way to stop himself from thinking about the things that have happened.. maybe you should try and make a deal to go out a few times a week rather than staying in..

I understand. I had an ex girlfriend who had PTSD after death of her husband. Its a very sad thing to witness a person in that state. I tried very much to help her emotionally but i felt like an outsider. Since I had never been married before I felt like I had nothing to give. We were very happy for a while, but she was very paranoid of my family and friends. She distanced herself from her family. This in turn made it difficult because I had a family that liked her. But she had deeper issues and it took its toll on me emotionally as well. She and I did'nt sleep together after a while and that alone about killed me because I wanted to be close to her. It went from bad to worse.We went from Lovers to friends to roommates to strangers to enemies. It was a bad time for me. I am here if you want to talk.

very good post! You made one point that i think all of us need to heed. We are responsible for our own happiness! Too many times we expect others to "make it right" that is not going to happen very often. Too many marriages fail, because one of the partners or both, are waiting for the other to make them happy! We also tend to dwell on the negatives,and take for granted the positives! Good Luck! <br /><br />Online games, PS -3....all Japans get even for world war II plan! I hate them!

As usual it takes the strength and intelligence of a woman to see what's real in this world....I will be the first to admit that the tough and rough exterior of any man harbors a weak and childlike being inside. I have learned through my dealings with my personal and professional life that asking for help is a show or courage not weakness, and in order to be happy in any relationship, first you must be happy in your own skin....you can't make him better, all you can do is be there for him when it all comes crashing down....and it will....he has to face that fact. You also have the right to have a relationship that gives as much back as you give....Stay strong, stay focused, and make sure you do right by you first......any of your friends here on EP will be more than happy to help in any way.....<br />and that includes me....<br />Warm hugs....

Welcome friends To seconds lost, and to starts that won't begin
To twisted eyes that see inside Rules that always bend
A simple task, a see-through mask That questions where and why
We shared our skin to occupy, and keep our piece of mind
It's so unfair This broken smile...

For many people happiness is an elusive butterfly in the garden of life. Imagine a young child in the garden on a summer day. The child sees a beautiful butterfly flitting from flower to flower. With eyes of wonder the child wants to see it close up, touch it, and hold it in...